The CLOCK METHOD

May 2nd. This day, we were blessed with a variety of winds. After discussing our future schedule with Shinbo-san at the harbor, we set sail around 10 o'clock. The wind was still strong from yesterday and it was about 8 m. We determined a two point reef was best and raised the sail. The Aeolus started sailing away. Shinbo-san said "Hiro-san, at 12:00 are the Rokko Mountains and at 10:00 you can see the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge." Yes. It is easier for the blind to understand direction when you use the hands on a clock. Ordinarily, the direction the blind person is facing would be their 12:00. 90 degrees to the right is 3:00 and 90 degrees to the left is 9:00. For example, you can use this when you are trying to explain a variety of food on a round plate. If you are sitting right in front of them, just be careful you don't confuse their 3:00 and 9:00 with yours. When we are on a yacht, the bow is our 12:00. As soon as we changed the direction of the yacht, Shinbo-san said; "There is a landfill at your 12:00 that's shaped like a half of a blade and we are headed for the tip of that blade." I know it's what he does but his command of vocabulary is amazing. As a blind person, to be able to sail with someone who can explain what he sees as well as he can makes the voyage even more enjoyable. Please give it a try. Try to explain a familiar scenery with expressions that make it even more imaginable. The wind was blowing NE but it changed to NW and then North and at one point we had no wind at all. Shibo-san went to the deck to raise the gennaker which is a sail we use when there isn't much wind so I took the helm. As we were doing this, the wind started picking up speed and got up to over 10 m. We immediately reefed the sail, practiced for a while and returned to the harbor. I have been praciticing under heavy winds since I got to Japan so I am no longer afraid of sailing in strong winds. It's about a month until we set sail and leave Hokko Harbor in Osaka. Please continue to support us!

Originally posted by Hiro in Japanese on 5/4/2013
Translated by SWIS Project